Chapter Eighteen

Sonny arrived home to find Jason waiting for him to discuss issues they were having at the docks. They had been 30 minutes into their meeting when they noticed Claudia had entered the room, and seemed to be searching for something. She completely ignored them as she moved about the room, opening drawers and searching tabletops. Both Sonny and Jason watched her silently and curiously as she maneuvered around their positions; Sonny seated in the chair and Jason seated on the sofa. When she got down on her hands and knees to look under the coffee table Sonny jumped from his seat and swiftly moved to her.

"Wha…what are you doing?" He asked as he reached down to help her up. She remained silent as she grasped his hand and allowed him to pull her up. She then began sniffing the air and then lifted his hand to her nose and sniffed it. A wide smile graced her face and she released his hand and moved to his desk. She only had to open one drawer to find what she was looking for. She lifted the white bag with a triumphant hackle, and then clutching the bag to her chest, she rushed up the stairs.

"OK what the hell was that about?" Jason asked, looking at Sonny who was taking seat again.

"A bag of cannolies from that Italian bakery on Lexington Ave. they're her favorites. She can smell them no matter where she is in the house she always knows when I bring her some." Sonny stated and Jason nodded.

"Yeah, they say pregnant women have a heightened sense of smell." Jason responded.

"Actually she was like that before she got pregnant and it always freaks me out."


18 Weeks


"Sonny, are you even listening to me?" She asked as she stood at the foot of their bed with her hands on her hips. She only wore a black satin bra and panty set, along with a short black satin robe. Sonny lied in their bed propped against his pillows, silently watching her as she did her nightly ritual before bed. He had been listening to her intently until he noticed her profile and the small, firm swell of her belly, which peeked out of the robe. It was very noticeable on her slender frame.

"Turn just a little bit," He commanded and she did so as she looked at him curiously. "Look at that?" He said with a smile. Claudia looked down and when she noticed what he was referring to she quickly yanked her robe closed.

"Yes, I'm getting fat, thank you very much for pointing it out." She said in a huff as she tied the sash of the robe to keep it closed.

"You're not fat, you're full of life." Sonny said and her defensive stance softened a bit. "You're beautiful."

"Great the only time my husband finds me beautiful is when I'm full of his seed and fat." Claudia said with a pout as she stomped to her side of the bed and lied down against her pillows.

"That's not…" Sonny began to speak but quickly paused as he recalled Carly's pregnancies and how he had to sometime walk on eggshells around her, and had to watch how he worded things, as so not to upset her or make cry. "You're always beautiful…I mean I've always thought you were a hot mamasita," He said and she smirked at him. "Now that you're pregnant, you glow." He said as he reached out and placed a hand on her belly.

"Thank you," She mumbled. "Here," She reached out and grasped the lotion she had set atop her nightstand, and handed it to Sonny. "Since you're already touching it you might as well rub cocoa butter on it." With a smile Sonny took the lotion, opened it, and squeezed a small amount in his hand, as she opened her robe. He then slowly and gently rubbed the cool cream against her belly.


24 weeks


He entered the house and ran into an obstacle course of baby furniture, baby toys and delivery men. When he finally reached the sitting room he found Sonny and a blonde haired woman seated looking at color swatches.

"Oh this is bad," Johnny spoke out as he looked about the room at the many baby items.

"Claudia's not here," Sonny said in a dismissive tone as he looked up briefly at Johnny.

"Uhm, have you guys found out the sex of the baby yet. Last I spoke with Claudia she said she didn't want to know."

"No, we've decided to wait and be surprised."

"Well it's a good thing Claudia isn't here because if she sees all of this she's going to freak." This got Sonny full attention.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about all this baby stuff you got for a baby you don't even know the sex of." Johnny said with a chuckle.

"Johnny why are you here?" Sonny asked growing slightly irritated with Johnny's questioning manner.

"I just came to check on my sister, but lucky for you I arrived just in time to save your life."

"Sonny Corinthos!" Claudia's voice boomed through the room followed by the slamming of the front door. "What the hell is all of this, oh my God!" She gasped out.

"Ok calm down Claddie," Johnny said as he moved to her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Calm down, do you see what he's done, and who the hell is she?" Claudia asked as she pointed at the seated woman.

"This is Christine, she's the interior designer I hire to do the nursery." Sonny stated as he stood and approached her and Johnny.

"Il mio dio," Claudia exclaimed as she threw her arms in the air.

"Calmi giù, Claudia" Johnny again tried to calm his sister.

"I can't be here, I have to leave," She said as she held her hands in the air and backed towards the door.

"What… what's wrong. I thought you'd be happy, that I'd surprise you." Sonny defended.

"What's wrong? I don't know…are you trying to kill this baby Sonny? Is this payback for Michael?" Claudia asked and Sonny stared at her as if she had lost her mind. "I'm leaving, I'm getting a room at the Metro Court, and I'm not coming back until all of this…stuff is out of this house." She then turned and stormed from the room, slamming the front door as she left. Sonny then turned to Johnny for an explanation.

"We come from a very long line of superstitious Italian women, who come from a long line of superstitious gypsy women. "The belief is that you never buy things for a baby until you know for sure whether you're having a boy or a girl, doing so will curse the pregnancy. You could lose the baby or worse it can be born deformed." Johnny stated and Sonny rolled his eyes as he placed his hands on his hips. "Hey I know I think it's a bit crazy too, and if she weren't pregnant Claudia would probably agree. But she is pregnant and she's already afraid that she's not going to be a good mother, and she's still feeling guilt over Michael and thinking karma from that will affect the baby somehow. Her hormones probably have her thinking irrationally. She's stubborn, set in her ways, and she's means it when she says she's not coming back in this house until all this baby stuff is gone." Johnny said and then left out hoping to check up with his sister.


Il mio dio. – Oh God

Calmi giù – Clam down